All about Lawn Mower Blades
In order to keep your lawn healthy and attractive, your lawn mower has to be
able to cut the grass cleanly and without tearing. Sharp blades are essential
for proper cutting, so it’s important to check out your lawn mower blades on a
regular basis.
If the lawn mower blades on your lawn mower are dull, the grass will not be cut
– it will be torn. The results of torn grass are susceptibility to disease and
browning from sun exposure. If your lawn doesn’t look healthy, the cause may be
your lawn mower blades.
You can take you lawn mower to a service shop to get the blades sharpened, or
you can do it yourself. If you decided to sharpen the lawn mower blades on your
own, take a few precautions. Always drain the gas tank and remove the spark plug
when working on the underside of your lawn mower. Even a small movement of the
blades can be enough to start the engine – a dangerous event when your fingers
are in the blade path.
To remove the lawn mower blades from the mower, use an adjustable wrench to take
off the center bolt. Inspect the blade for any nicks, and remove them by
clamping the blade in a vise and using a file to smooth the edges.
Once the edges are smoothed, you can sharpen lawn mower blades with either a
file a rotary grinder. Keep a watch on the balance – you can check which side is
heavier by hanging the blade on a nail. The heavier side is the one that can
have extra filing or grinding.
When sharpening the lawn mower blades, try not to change the angle of the
cutting edge. The proper angle will extend the life of the blades and minimize
the time needed between sharpenings.
How often should you sharpen you lawn mower blades? That depends on how often
you cut your grass, whether or not there are a lot of stones that the blades
come in contact with and other factors. A general rule, though, is to sharpen
the blades every 4 to 6 weeks.
Keeping your lawn mower blades in good condition ensures that lawn will stay
healthy and attractive. Taking a few minutes to sharpen the blades is a good
investment for the future of your lawn.
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